Anh “Joseph” Cao is a successful lawyer, an accomplished civic leader, and a devoted family man. Joseph was born in 1967 in Saigon, where he spent his early childhood during the most turbulent years of the Vietnam War. When the Vietnam Conflict ended in 1975, Joseph escaped South Vietnam with two of his siblings to America. Joseph left behind: his father, a South Vietnamese army officer who was taken prisoner by the Communists; his mother; and five of his sisters. He would not see his parents again for sixteen years.

Joseph would go on to earn a bachelor’s degree in physics from Baylor University in 1990. After graduation, Joseph wanted to serve the needs of the poor by joining the Society of Jesus. From the slums of Mexico to the refugee camps of Hong Kong, Joseph experienced first-hand the suffering of the indigent. In 1995, Joseph earned a M.A. in philosophy at New York’s Fordham University, and returned to Louisiana to teach ethics at Loyola University New Orleans. Joseph then earned a juris doctor from Loyola Law School in 2000, and started his legal career as in-house counsel for Boat People S.O.S., a non-profit organization serving the needs of Vietnamese refugees. In July of 2001, Joseph married the woman of his dreams, Hieu “Kate” Hoang, who is a Doctor of Pharmacy, and who graduated cum laude from Xavier University. Before obtaining her Pharm. D., Kate received her bachelor’s degree in Finance and a minor in Accounting from Louisiana State University. Kate and Joseph have been blessed with two beautiful daughters: Sophia (2003), and Betsy (2004).

In 2002, Joseph was hand-picked by Archbishop Alfred Hughes to become a member of the National Advisory Council of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. In 2008, Joseph Cao ran a successful campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives. On January 6, 2009, he was sworn in as the representative for Louisiana’s Second Congressional District and the first Vietnamese-American Congressman. During his time in the U.S. House of Representatives, Joseph earned a reputation as being a tough lawmaker with high integrity. Joseph served in three committees: Transportation and Infrastructure; Homeland Security; and Oversight and Government Reform. In 2010, Joseph returned to the practice of law following a very productive term as a congressman. He seeks to bring the same integrity and toughness that earned him numerous awards as a lawmaker to serving the needs of his clients.

Awards

•Excellent US Law Maker of 2009 given by Vietnamese-American Justice Foundation

•Activism and Fairness Award given by USPA ACC

•Exemplary Leadership Award given by Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi

•Health Care Leadership Award given by the American Optometric Association

•Leadership Award presented by VABA-DC

•Spirit of Lincoln Award

•Marquis Who’s Who in the South and Southwest for Outstanding Achievements

•Trailblazer Award presented by The National Conference of Vietnamese American Attorneys (NCVAA)

Organizations

•Board of Trustee Member of United Way

•Board Member of Benjamin Franklin High School

•Board Member of Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS)

•Advocated for Oil Spill Victims Involvement in Vessel of Opportunity (VoO) Program

•Featured in the documentary, “Mr. Cao Goes to Washington,” which received the Full Frame Inspiration Award.